A Chinese couple, a South Korean couple, and my Mongolian friend and I had the privilege of praying together every morning for nearly an entire year. This experience brought us together in unity as brothers and sisters in Jesus, made us more aware of the glimpses of truth He had placed in each of our cultures, and gave us strength and boldness to be light to those around us. It was a sweet taste of the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17.
In His prayer, Jesus revealed His heart in a truly powerful and distinct way. He prayed for His disciples, as well as for all the believers. He said, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:20-21). This means he prayed for all those who believe in Him today!
Jesus prayed that they would “experience such perfect unity that the world will know that [God the Father] sent me” (John 17:23). He was looking ahead to the time when people from every nation, tribe, social class, culture, and language would bow their knee and pledge allegiance in unity to the great I AM (Revelation 7:9-10). Jesus was implying that the unity of the believers would convince people the gospel is true.
Over the centuries, despite what Jesus prayed, believers have not always walked in unity. My experiences with my Chinese, South Korean, and Mongolian friends, however, give me hope that we can be united in Christ. May we live out a deep belief in what Jesus said to His Father: “Your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them” (John 17:26). Our unity presents the beautiful union of our triune God.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Isaiah 6:1-13
More:
Read Ephesians 4:3 and think about how you can bind yourself in peace to other believers.
Next:
Why is unity among believers so important to Jesus? What steps can you take to live out His vision for unity in your faith community?
Gary Shultz on May 22, 2017 at 5:49 am
Hi Estera: Isn’t that a great passage. To know Christ prayed and continues to account for us and encourage us as we walk life for Him. One of the things I like that you found in praying, is it triangulates people to and with God. As we relate to others and pray to and for others, Christ’s Spirit once again helps and supports the relationship we share. From any and every point in life and geographic location Christ pulls together, and what a fascinating time we can have. That does not just happen in every human encounter; it is as special as the people involved. The world cannot duplicate because it’s from heavenly origins. For me, I must learn to be less critical, and understand that we as believers may have many different backgrounds as we come together. I must also use the screen of God’s word to keep true doctrinal accuracy as we step along in life. The world is not used to seeing a bond of that nature, I hope we are. Thanks Estera
Estera Pirosca Escobar on May 22, 2017 at 10:38 am
You are so right, thank you for your thoughts, Gary. I appreciate your comment about “heavenly origins.” Our fellowship with one another and with God comes through the bond of the Spirit made possible by Jesus’ death on the cross. I pray that all of us would grow more in love towards our brothers and sisters and less focused on our differences.
Tom Felten on May 22, 2017 at 8:22 am
Estera, thanks for sharing how beautiful—because of Jesus—it can be for people from different ethnicities to dwell in unity together. In a world marked by division, hatred, and discord—these words from Paul are a clarion call: “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Estera Pirosca Escobar on May 22, 2017 at 10:40 am
Thank you, Tom, for that reminder. That is the sad reality of our world today, division, selfishness, self–centeredness. But praise be to our Lord for modeling and empowering us to pursue a better way, one that would lead to peace, unity, and ultimately bring glory to our Father.
remembered on May 22, 2017 at 9:39 am
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (verse 10). Paul would not have appealed to them to do that which was impossible. Unity is the sure result of Christian perfection…. ” The Sanctified Life 85.1
Estera Pirosca Escobar on May 22, 2017 at 10:43 am
Thank you, Remembered, for highlighting that verse. Indeed, if we follow in step with the Spirit, we will be able to attain the unity Jesus prayed for. I’m so glad Paul wrote these words because we can read them often, memorize them, and put them into practice daily. May God give us the strength and may we walk in obedience.
remembered on May 22, 2017 at 4:04 pm
Amen, Sister Esther! “…greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
With Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith, this text takes on a completely new meaning for me: “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Living by His Spirit, the Presence of His love constrains us (2 Corinthians 5:14), causing us, in Him, to “spoil… principalities and powers, (making) a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:15
“Christ in you, (is our ONLY) hope of glory” 1 John 4:4; Colossians 1:27 He is not only our Savior from sin, but our Elder Brother; Advocate; and, desires to live His life in and through us, that He, as Judge, may judge us as righteous.
When tempted, I have frequently referred our Adversary to the words of Jeremiah, that “THE LORD (is my) RIGHTEOUSNESS”; that I have been given Power to resist him, that it’s time for him to flee! Jeremiah 23:5, 6; 1 John 5:18; John 1:12; James 4:7; Psalm 9:8; Jude 1: 24, 25